outdistanced | turbo heaven 🌼 chrono

...Okay. [ laurence doesn't know what retail is. he hardly even knows about money. transitioning to life outside the tower is going to be an experience.

oh, that thought. he pauses to give chrono an amused look before reaching for his hand wordlessly, intertwining their fingers. overthinking again. stop that. ]

The tiramisu you showed me didn't look that hard. [ thinks of the yaoi tiramisu and giggles. not laurence, me. ] Of course I want to come. Not that I'll be much help.

Plane tickets are expensive, and I don't make a lot of money at my job. If I visit Tokoha, she'll probably offer to pay, but still.

[ her big pro player winnings. why are all of his friends like 500% cooler than him.

ah. well. good. he's not even embarrassed anymore, just grateful and pleased. ]

It's not that difficult. Might be a good start, unless anyone makes a request. Could make a few things with enough hands.

[ nods with the vibe of "whatever you say, buddy." ]

Then we'll keep checking. It has to wear off eventually.

There's already tiramisu in the tavern... [ and bas is a really good cook. ] You could try her sugar cookies or something. And I guess if you need an extra hand, I can try.

Guess you can just pop your head in, check for wizards and leave, huh?

[ how handy. so cool.

nods... bas is a really good cook. he's learned a lot from him. ]

Sugar cookies are good, if she wants to try again. Maybe something savoury, too. [ smirks at him. ] Oh yeah, you're one hundred percent bein' put to work, count on that.

Yeah, easy. Just have to make sure they don't come through while I'm at it.

[ imagine if the wizards got loose. ]

Wow. Maybe I should just come in later instead.

Can you make smaller portals? Just enough to look through?

[ pff. shoulderchecks him.]

Dude, you literally just offered. Can't have it both ways.

I'm not sure. Theoretically, maybe, but I've never tried. They can be dangerous if they're not stable enough, you know?

[ thoughtsharing the image of akihiko losing his arm... ough. bad. ]

I can take it back.

[ he isn't. but he could. ]

[ ouuugh bad. chrono squeezes his hand, thumb running a soothing motion along his. ]

Right. I get it.

[ keep things stable. makes sense. mm.]

No, you don't. It won't be hard work. You can throw stuff at me again, it'll be fun.

[ mumbles 'm fine but yeah. leaving it at that for now. ]

Are you seriously just inviting me to throw shit at you?

[ the thumb movements and soothing emotions do not stop for a bit. ]

I'm inviting you to have a nice day with a little incentive. It was pretty fun, last time.

[ the annoying(?) thing is that it does actually help. ]

Yeah, it was. [ fond... even if he's still not sure about curry. ] You're lucky I don't mind helping out. Just don't expect me do anything too complicated.

[ good?? it should

he hums, pleased. ]

You can just stand there and look pretty if you really want, but I don't think you'd actually be comfortable doing that if the rest if us are working. So I guess I am lucky, yeah.

"Look pretty?"

[ with a little flash of faux-annoyance? be fr he's not the type of person for pretty. ]

How many people are you even inviting?

Dunno yet. Maybe four or so like last time?

[ but your gyaru phase... he laughs, though, a little spark of mischief in his expression. hmm ]

Ah? What should I say then? Handsome, attractive, charming? Cute? I got a few more adjectives to pick from if you're gonna be fussy.

Is Zhongli coming again, too? [ he's just curious... he missed grandpa so it might be nice.

kjdflfsghj why! are you like this! god! ]

You literally don't have to say anything.

I haven't asked him, but that's a good idea. Text for later.

[ swings their hands a little. heheheh ]

Don't have to, sure. But I want to, sometimes. Isn't it the same reason you only call me cute in your thoughts?

It's been a while, so he might like it?
.
[ lets chrono swing their hands but hey, why is he being called out this is so embarrassing, ]

Maybe you should stop listening to my thoughts. Have you considered that?

[ as if that didn't work out very well for them last week... but this is a different situation entirely. ]

He did say last time that he would be happy to help.

[ and he wants to hang out with peepaw...

another hum, a tilt of his head, and a smile. another wave of fondness and that warmth. ]

Yeah, I have, but it... makes me happy, y'know? [ guy who still can't handle compliments but... will admit this, apparently. ] So it's hard to ignore.

[ hm. hmmmmm. he is still incredibly embarrassed, but somehow hearing chrono say that starts to crack through it. maybe that warmth helps, a little, too.

there doesn't seem to be anyone else here at the moment, so laurence leans closer to whisper. ]

Then... yeah. You're cute.

[ and gives him a quick kiss on the cheek before straightening and pointedly looking away, refusing to think about how warm his fave feels. they're still kind of in public, after all... ]

[ oh. he is... very much not expecting that, fully prepared for more tsundeflection or even teasing at his own expense. which would have both been fine, but-- well.

the whisper makes him shiver a little, and his thoughts and emotions take their turn to effectively keysmash. his face goes scarlet and... he also looks away, free hand coming up to cover it. they're still holding hands. stupid ]

A-ah. Um, thanks. [ aaaaaaaaaaaaa ] I meant. What I said about you, too.

[ well somehow that isn't the reaction he's expecting, either? why are they so stupid. the emotional keysmash does make him glance back at chrono with a vaguely amused smile. it is a little funny, when he's not on the receiving end. ]

So you're allowed to call me pretty but you can't take being called cute? [ he'll just ignore the part about himself it's fine. ] I like seeing you happy.

I just-- wasn't expecting it like that!!

[ today's just been so good that the emotional whiplash after basically constant misery is doing something weird to him. that's gotta be it. it's why his heart's pounding over something so simple.

he ducks his head, back of his knuckles pressed to his mouth to muffle the words that traitorously refuse to be held back now. ]

Me... to you, too. But I like teasing you as well, and- when you get all excited about stuff. When you came through your portal today it... really made me so happy I didn't know how to even express it.

[ makes a helpless kind of sound. quietly; ]

God I need to shut up. Just ignore all that.

Edited 2025-04-03 01:25 (UTC)

Come on, you were totally asking for it. [ he's teasing, but

when chrono keeps going, it just sort of. stops him short. he stares at chrono and has to tell his heart several times to calm down. try several more times to speak before he can find his voice. when he does, it sounds faint to his own ears. ]

...How am I supposed to just ignore that? [ man. ] The portal today... i-it was just a trial run. But if it worked at all - that's the first step, I guess. So if it made you happy... then I'm glad, too.

You should be proud for yourself, too. It was- you're really amazing.

[ that, beyond anything, he believes wholeheartedly. not just his powers, of course. but he's been impressed by him this whole time.

chrono exhales deeply, tugging at their hands to keep them moving but pulling ahead a bit. ]

It's been a good day.

...I am. [ proud, at least. "amazing" would take a lot more convincing.

he'll just let chrono pull him along without any protest. they're still holding hands. he's happy with this. ]

Good. We needed one of those.

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